Alfked a



@nimh tzttes utnt @than `which it is to be attached rigidly to the tubeD in any suitable manner.

ALFRED A. STIMSON, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Leners Pate-nt N..79,407, dated Jan.; 30,1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUNGS FOR GASES.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ALFRED A. STIMso-N, of Boston, in the county ofSuolk, and-State of Massachusetts, l

have invented a new and improved Automatic Bring; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersk ofreference marked thereon. v

The nature of my invention consists in providing the bung with anaperture, into which is inserted a'tbe surrounded by a reservoircontaining liquid. Above the said tube is aiiied auy inverted-cup, whoseedge is ,immersed in the liquid contained in the reservoir, which willprevent iiies, bugs, or dirt from entering the barrel orrreservoir inwhich the bung is inserted, yet will allow the gases and d irty scum toescape and pass of through the reservoir of water when the contents ofthebarrel are in the act of fermentation.

To enable others skilled in the art to make und use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation. l

I construct my bung inthe usual form, and provide it with an aperture orhole through its centre lengthwise. Into this I tit a metal tube of thedesired length, say six or eight inches. This tube I surround with ametal reservoir, extending above the bung, say, four or five rinches,which may be made conical, and the larger end six or eight inchesacross. I then construct a smaller conical-shaped cup, say, three inchesin diameter. At the larger end I aihx across-piece, by which I suspendthis cone-shaped cup by the centre tube, andin an inverted position, ormouth down, within the larger one, leaving au intervening space varoundbetween the. edge of the'small one and theA sides of the outer one, toadmit the passage of dirt or scum which has been forced up through thecentre tube by the gases evolved when the contents of the barrel are ina state of fermentation.

New, to prevent bugs, lies, dirt, or air from getting into the barrel,orcoming in contact with the contents of the barrel, I lill `the outerreservoir with water, which covers the edge of the inverted cupsufficiently to prevent the ingress of any objectionable matter liablelto come in contact with the contents of the barrel, when n left open,Ito allow the dirt or scum to pass olinvthe usual manner when in a stateof fermentation, yet freely allow gases and dirt or scum an easy egress.

This automatic bung may be constructedin a variety of forms, as severalmethods have'been contemplated,

but the one described is considered as the best, the water or liquidstopple being the desideratum sought in thef invention, for the purposeset forth.

Figure is a perspective view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse central section of the same.

The letters of reference correspond in the figures.

In the d rawings, A represents a bung, of wood, having a ho'le throughits centre.

D represents a tin or other tube, inserted in the hole in the bung, ormay beformed in the same piece as the bung, and in wood or metal.

B represents a reservoir, which may be made conical, if desired, and oftin or other material, while C repre` scnts a smaller vessel, orconical-shaped cup, 4which iuay' be of tin also, having a support orcross-piece, h, by

E represents water or liquid contained in the vessel B, while the edgeof cup C is immersed therein.

It will he readily seen-that if tne bung, constructed as rcpresented,'beinserted in a barrel containing new cider, for instance, and till thereservoir with water, and when the vcider commences to work or ferment,`the gases, scum,`dirt, &c\, willrise to the top of the barrel, and, bythe force of the gases, will be carried up the tube D and fall over itsend into the water, E, and then bugs, flies, dirt, or air are completelyshut out from contact with the cider. Thus it will automatically takecare of itself, as the barrel will not need filling up occasionally, toallow the scum and dirt to work out at the bung-hole, when left open, asheretofore.

Bv my invention I am enabledrto produce cider which is superior instrength and elearness, also of a pleasantcr or better flavor, beingperfectly clear, and kept from the air in the act of fermentation.

.What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The bung A, constructed with tube. D, cup C, reservoir.]3, for holdingwater, all constructed to operate substantially inthe manner described,and for the purposes 'set forth.

ALFRED A. STIMSON.. Witnesses:

' SYLV'XUS WALKER,

Guo. CLARK, Jr.

